Can You Lower Your Cancer Risk? What You Should Know About Prevention

While there’s no guaranteed way to avoid cancer entirely, decades of research show that certain behaviors can significantly reduce your risk. Although cancer mortality rates have improved, the incidence of several cancers has increased. A new report highlights what you can do to help protect yourself.

According to the American Association for Cancer Research, 40% of all cancer cases are linked to behaviors within your control—one of the most significant being alcohol consumption. The main lifestyle factors associated with cancer include smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight, poor diet, lack of exercise, overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, exposure to pollutants, and alcohol use.

Surprisingly, many people are unaware of alcohol’s strong link to cancer, particularly breast cancer. Recent studies show that about 70% of young women are unaware that excessive alcohol consumption is a major risk factor. Research has identified that excessive alcohol intake raises the risk of six types of cancer, and approximately 5% of all cancer cases are tied to drinking behaviors.

Cutting back on alcohol could lower your cancer risk by 10 to 40%, depending on the type of cancer. The lowest rates of cancer are found in those who don’t drink at all. It’s not hard to understand why—alcohol damages DNA, disrupts hormone function, and harms gut health, all of which can increase cancer risk. While scientists are still uncovering all the details, it’s clear that frequent and excessive alcohol consumption takes a serious toll on your body.

There is some good news, though. Advances in technology and cancer care have contributed to a 33% decrease in cancer-related deaths over recent years.

But how much alcohol is safe? The World Health Organization recently stated that no amount of alcohol is entirely risk-free. However, research suggests that drinking two or fewer alcoholic beverages per week keeps your cancer risk relatively low.

The bottom line: while you can't completely eliminate your risk, adopting healthier habits—especially reducing alcohol intake—can go a long way in helping prevent cancer.